Kopin Corp. officials say a new Wearable Tech Center in Silicon Valley will help the Westboro-based company surf the next “big wave” in high-tech that’s just starting to build with the arrival of Google Glass.

“We are not new in this game. We have been working in this area for more than 20 years. We have a patent going back to 1993,” Kopin’s Chief Technology Officer Hong Choi told the Herald yesterday. “Once people realize there is going to be a wave, there will be a lot of activities. We have to run faster than others.”

The center, which will be staffed with experts who developed Kopin’s Golden-i wearable headset systems and integrated circuit designers from e-MDT America, Inc., is expected to be fully operational in a couple of months, Choi said.

“Our company is now focused on this new wave,” Choi said. “We’re hoping to be a leader in developing this technology.”

The center’s cost was not disclosed. Kopin’s existing Westboro facility will be used as corporate headquarters while also providing micro-display manufacturing capabilities for wearable tech, Choi said. Kopin’s Scotts Valley, Calif., office will focus on developing government systems, largely for military use.

Choi added that research indicates the wearable computing technology market is poised to hit $1.5 billion by next year and $6 billion by 2016, and companies are already putting the smart technology into everyday products such as watches.